Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Temple of sleeping buddha, Beijing,China

The Temple of the Sleeping Buddha is located in the western suburbs of Beijing. It was build in the Tang Dynasty ( 618-907) and rebuild and renamed in Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644), Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties.The Hall of the Sleeping Buddha is the main structure of the temple. Entering the temple and passing through the Glazed Archway, the Mountain Gate Hall, Devaraja Hall and the Hall of the Buddhas of Three Ages, you come to the Hall of the Sleeping Buddha.In the hall is the bronze status of Sakyamuni in recumbent position. Cast in 1321, the statue weights about 54 tons and is 5.3 meters in length. Around the status are his 12 disciples molded in clay. The posture of the group is said to be represent a scene in which Sakyamuni was giving instructions to his disciples as he neared the end of his earthly existence.